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'Shirtstorm' Leads To Apology From European Space Scientist

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hohoXD123

Member
Never paid much attention to The Verge but I sure as hell will not start now. So much ridiculous hyperbole, but it's hilarious that they reached out to the ESA for an apology.
 
In all seriousness, I'm more than a little concerned that people are throwing around value judgements of the person based on that shirt. If we never saw him in that shirt that day but he wears it on his personal days is he still a terrible sexist misogynist? Do we distill and define people based on what they wear?

Does make you think: do these crazy Internet PC Warriors stop people on the street they see wearing this kind of gear, when they are by themselves? Or is it only online, where they can start a witch hunt?
 

The Technomancer

card-carrying scientician
Does make you think: do these crazy Internet PC Warriors stop people on the street they see wearing this kind of gear, when they by themselves? Or is it only online, where they can start a witch hunt?

Oh I see what kind of thread this is

Well nevermind then, I'll see myself out. I'm exhausted of this shit
 

Volimar

Member
In all seriousness, I'm more than a little concerned that people are throwing around value judgements of the person based on that shirt. If we never saw him in that shirt that day but he wears it on his personal days is he still a terrible sexist misogynist? Do we distill and define people based on what they wear?

I don't think he's a sexist or misogynist. I think he likes ladies in lingerie and he likes that shirt. I kind of like it too. But it was dumb to wear it in that setting. It was tasteless and unprofessional, and I can see why a lot of women might be put off by it or feel it sends a boy's club vibe though I'm certain that wasn't his intent.
 

DarkFlow

Banned
"Hey, this guy just helped land on a comet, amazing! Let's now ruin this moment for him by freaking out about his shirt"
 

KHarvey16

Member
This, basically. Like, he shouldn't lose his head or anything but I'm fine with him catching flak for it.

This is how I feel. It's representative of a problem and I think it's valuable to point out that even those with good intentions and no conscious desire to appear unwelcoming can participate. It shouldn't garner abusive language, but it should be an opportunity to learn and raise awareness.
 

Kinyou

Member
Man, I wouldn't wear that shirt if you paid me. Wish Gitman still had this available, way nicer and classy.

v13Ated.jpg


Not a day goes by where I don't regret getting it while I had the chance.
But that shirt would propagate that stem is a boys club :O
 

Brakke

Banned
it doesn't propagate anything unless he or its creator says it does. you're projecting.

That's a lame standard. The listener's experience is more important than a speaker's intent. You're on some a-bully-saying-"get over it it's just a joke" train.
 

Somnid

Member
In all seriousness, I'm more than a little concerned that people are throwing around value judgements of the person based on that shirt. If we never saw him in that shirt that day but he wears it on his personal days is he still a terrible sexist misogynist? Do we distill and define people based on what they wear?

He might well be, who knows? He's at least guilty of being ignorant. In any case he chose to wear it to work which deserves a wrist slap.
 
I don't think he's a sexist or misogynist. I think he likes ladies in lingerie and he likes that shirt. I kind of like it too. But it was dumb to wear it in that setting. It was tasteless and unprofessional, and I can see why a lot of women might be put off by it or feel it sends a boy's club vibe though I'm certain that wasn't his intent.

This is probably the best way to put it I've seen so far. Nothing wrong with the shirt or the person, but just not fitting for the situation. Don't think he deserves to get the flak, but hey ho. He'll know for the next time he helps to do something amazing.
 

raphier

Banned
I constantly keep thinking where is the line between misogynist man and a hetero-sexual man? It's not like the shirt is full of erotic pictures of women on it. This issue is overblown.
 

Reuenthal

Banned
It is just a cool looking shirt. It doesn't demean or stop women from going into STEM fields. If you want to really help with that, focus on female scientists and their accomplishment and not outrage on shirts.

If we are going to pull assumptions from our ass, a shitstorm created by this reaction to a man wearing a shirt on his biggest scientific accomplishment causing him to cry and apologise to satisfy a narcissistic desire of outrage and clickbait journalism probably discouraged more individuals (men and women) than his shirt. Constantly calling something a boys club due to meaningless bullshit like this shirt doesn't help with that too.
 

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I don't think there's a woman on this planet who would feel "unwelcome" in STEM because of some oddball scientist's personal style. If anything it shows that scientists come in all forms.

I do, however, think that scientists will be prevented from expressing personal style in the future.

I don't think this is progress for society any more than "Coffee in cup is extremely hot" warnings are progress in society. You played gotcha, and now people will take steps so that can't happen again.

You did fuck all for women. Fuck all.
 
I don't think he's a sexist or misogynist. I think he likes ladies in lingerie and he likes that shirt. I kind of like it too. But it was dumb to wear it in that setting. It was tasteless and unprofessional, and I can see why a lot of women might be put off by it or feel it sends a boy's club vibe though I'm certain that wasn't his intent.

Based on most photographs I've seen and news thumbnails you can barely tell what the pattern of the shirt even is. I've heard people claim it is pornography or has naked women on it. It has neither when you see the actual pattern. It more looks like silly posed super heroines.

I look at the man and I think that he seems like the sort of person that if you saw him in a coffee shop wearing that you might think he pumps gas for a living. Then you realize how wrong your ability to define someone is by what they look like.
 

-COOLIO-

The Everyman
"Hey, this guy just helped land on a comet, amazing! Let's now ruin this moment for him by freaking out about his shirt"
This is what makes that verge headline so terrible. How about something like "scientist's questionable fashion choice may turn women off of science". Instead of "I don't care that you landed a spacecraft on comet". The verge probably turned way more men and women are off of science than his shirt may have. After all, if journalists can't appreciate great scientific feats for at least 5 minutes before belittling them, then why are they a big deal?
 

elyetis

Member
The ESA should paint their next high-profile mission's craft with this 'Shirtstorm' pattern, just dozens upon dozens of speedo-hunks and latex-ladies like an 'upgraded' version of the Pioneer Plaque.
Where do I sign for this ?

I still wish I hadn't seen this topic, I was lucky enough to have followed the Rosetta event without seeing yet another stupid controversy trying to make not being able to respect a part ( as small as it might be ) of the current feminist(?) movement.
 

IISANDERII

Member
Well that shirt disgusts me, don't want to hear anything more about this comet or mission. It's all tainted now.














Can i find that shirt anywhere online?
 

Kuroyume

Banned
Twitter needs to just fuck off and die already.

It's just a goofy ass tshirt. And there's nothing wrong with women being sexy. Unbelievable that he has to apaologize for wearing it. And embaressing to see people somehow relate this to seme women in STEM bullshit

5Ue19ny.png


http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/10/17/356944145/episode-576-when-women-stopped-coding

The exodus of women from technology has become very important as tech has started to become a constant in every single person's life in developed countries. Women in tech matters a whole lot more than you think.

And whose fault is that? Matt Taylor?
 

Brakke

Banned
5Ue19ny.png


The exodus of women from technology has become very important as tech has started to become a constant in every single person's life in developed countries. Women in tech matters a whole lot more than you think.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/10/21/357629765/when-women-stopped-coding

To elaborate a bit, that turn in the graph happened literally because of marketing. So it's not outrageous to have a harsh reaction against something you interpret as continuing to establish and support that marketing.
 

-COOLIO-

The Everyman
This thread is working as a reminder of why gamergate is a thing. It's disappointing how dismissive the majority are.
Gamer gate was a fucked up movement but that doesn't mean that all feminists are infallible and never overstep the mark.
 
Well I can tell you that line isn't moving down because of a fucking shirt.
Yes, yes it is. Do you not get it? Women who see this shirt on this man will quit their Astrophysics and Engineering Degrees in a heartbeat! Why wouldn't they? His shirt has scantily clad women on it!

/s
 

JDSN

Banned
Still classier than some of the tasteless shit from Fashion-Gaf.

Edit: Oh, I see the secret gamergate people have found a barely legitimate outlet for their pent up frustration in this thread.
 
it doesn't propagate anything unless he or its creator says it does. you're projecting.

It doesn't necessarily propagate, but it does arch back to characteristically objectifying imagery of women, and in a context which is sensitive to gender related subjects, the shirt's content is particularly subject to scrutiny. I don't feel any of this actually excuses the straight up bellic controversy surrounding it, and the guy seems like a very nice dude who didn't mean any harm whatsoever (dude even teared up while apologizing, he's probably one big softy bear man), so it was probably just a lack of tact on his part.

Well shit now i'm mad that they made him feel so bad.
 

The Technomancer

card-carrying scientician
I don't think there's a woman on this planet who would feel "unwelcome" in STEM because of some oddball scientist's personal style. If anything it shows that scientists come in all forms.

I do, however, think that scientists will be prevented from expressing personal style in the future.

I don't think this is progress for society any more than "Coffee in cup is extremely hot" warnings are progress in society. You played gotcha, and now people will take steps so that can't happen again.

You did fuck all for women. Fuck all.
Forget the whole STEM angle for a moment. Have you ever worked in an actual work environment? The office I work at is incredibly laid back. My manager, one of the four most powerful people in the company, was at work today in a Vikings T-shirt. I've shown up in ripped jeans before. No-one in our company would dare to come to work in that shirt, we know that other female employees might find it alienating or disturbing.

I don't think this guy is a "bad person" or an "evil sexist" or anything else. I think he made one poor decision about what to wear on camera, caught some flak, and apologized. Good on him. But I do take issue with people who don't "see what the problem was in the first place"
 
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